University of Santo Tomas

 

This university is very historic in its own perspective. This university is said to be 400 years above years old and one of the oldest in the world and oldest in the country. It was founded on April 28, 1611 by the third bishop of Manila, Miguel de Buenavides. According to our lectures in Kaspil, UST is not the legitimate oldest university because it just started accepting local students in the 1800's. It is just the oldest university by paper.

 

It was first called Collegio de Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario and later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas in memory of a Dominican saint, Thomas Aquinas. Then its name change through time because of series of events that happened. In 1645 it acquired the name Universidad of Santo Tomas. In 1785, it has given the title “real” Spanish for “royal”. In 1902 it has given the title “pontifical”. And now it’s named Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines.

 

Notable and remarkable people also enrolled in this university including our very own national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. He enrolled in pre-Law course. He later chose to enter a career in medicine. In 1878 – 1879, he took simultaneously the pre-Medical course and the first year of Medicine which is prohibited by Law, but he was favored by dispensation. When he graduated in the university, he took the 2nd place out of 7.